• Scuba Diving with all types of Sharks such as Hammerheads
• Seeing fish the same size as a man but playful as a puppy
• In the months of June to August the chance of snorkelling with Dwarf Minke Whales
• One of the absolute mind blowing highlights is definitley with big groups of sharks circling above you.
• Another major highlight is playing with the giant Potato Cod Fish and Maori Wrasse

This is one liveaboard dive trip that truly will be one week of your life that you will never forget on this trip of a lifetime as you dive with sharks and man sized giant potato cod fish.

This Great Barrier Reef Coral Sea Safari will showcase all of the best dive sites that Australia has to offer with the highlight of "Diving with Sharks".

On our 7 day liveaboard dive trips from Cairns we will take you to pristine reefs that are far away from the coastline to areas where the clarity of water is amazing out in the depths of the coral sea and where there is no other boat traffic.

This region of the Coral Sea has such an amazing diversity of the marine life due to its remoteness, tidal currents that the marine life use as highways that you are sure to see things you may never have seen before on a liveaboard dive trip.

This area is so pristine and amazing that Sir David Attenborough has said it is his most favourite place in the world and not enough people come to witness its beauty!

Dive amongst the gargantuan coral gardens, experience drift diving along 1,000 m tall coral walls and get a chance to dive with opportunistic sharks on our signature shark dives.  

These magnificent streamlined predatory creatures are amazing to watch under water and still inspire heart-stopping awe as you see them and get close to them eye to eye in their domain.

 A mid tour stopover where some guests leave and others arrive at the exclusive Lizard Island really sets this liveaboard dive expedition apart as you get the opportunity to explore the famous island that Captain James Cook used as a lookout to plan a route out of the reef, - a view that is still the same all these centuries later. It is now host to a luxury resort for the loved up couples and the rich and famous from all over the world. 

 From June to August we have a high chance of spotting Dwarf Minke Whales or even passing Humpback whales that migrate to these safe coral protected waters to mate, calf and just to relax.

Any other time of the year you can look forward to spending time with sea turtles (this area boasts having 6 of the 7 marine turtle species on the planet), rays, sharks, massive Humphead Parrotfish, schooling Trevally and Barracuda, dog size Maori Wrasse and diver size Potato Cod fish and Groupers.

For the small critter fans and macro photographers, there are Nudibranch, Gobies and Blennies, pipe horses, moray eels and clown fish.

If you wish to bring the whole family we will accept children on our liveaboard dive trips over 8 years old with any divers to be over 12 years old with dive certificates.  

If your group has non-divers there is amazing snorkeling at the dive sites and being a large boat there is ample room to relax on the top deck (sun chairs provided) or in the sumptuous living area (with 2 flat screen TV’s and DVD’s).

As we are in a remote location with sometimes strong currents divers will be required to be  experienced Open Water divers or Advanced divers.

Please note: This extended liveaboard Great Barrier Reef dive trip is not recommended for newly certified divers.

The visibility of the waters tend to be consistently clear and temperatures are comfortable and range from around 22 degrees celcius (71 fahrenheit) (August – October) to 30 degrees celcius (86 degrees fahrenheit) ( (Feb-May) – the rest of the time its in between. 

Departure Dates Currently Available (as of 01/03/25):

• 2025 Departure Dates Currently Available: 04/09, 18/19, 02/10, & 11/12
• 2026 Departure Dates Currently Available: 08/01, 15/01, 22/01, 23/04, 13/08, 03/09, 17/09, 24/09, 01/10, 10/12 & 17/12
• 2027 Departure Dates Currently Available: 07/01, 14/01, 21/07 & 28/01

Liveaboard Dive Safari 7 Nights/26 Dives

You will board your liveaboard luxury vessel for the week at the Cairns Marina.

Arriving at 6 pm you will be introduced and welcomed to all the crew, where you can settle in your cabin and relax on the boat.

Sit on the top deck or in the lounge area and watch the amber glow of another beautiful tropical sunset as the final rays of the day disappear behind the mountains of the Great Dividing Range.

Overnight the vessel will make its way to the remote and pristine reefs of the far north Osprey Reef and the surrounding ribbon reefs of the Great Barrier Reef.

The dive sites visited on this trip are numerous and varied and will depend mainly on the season, conditions, currents and prevailing weather conditions. 

The following are a selection of dive sites that are usually dived:

World Famous Cod Hole Dives

The world famous Cod Hole is the most famous dive site on the Great Barrier Reef.  Aptly named after the diver-sized Potato Cod that inhabits the area.  

These Cod can grow up to a weight of 30 kg (66 lbs) and are highly inquisitive and friendly with divers. 

The curious Maori Wrasse, who are the size of a large dog and like to follow divers, will also most likely follow you around like a puppy dog.

For all photographers, make sure you have your wide angled lens for this dive – the fish are huge.

Dive With Snakes in the Snake Pit

The science in naming dive sites is pretty simple.  Due to lack of imagination, or just being obvious this dive site is called the Snake Pit due to the plethora of resident sea snakes here.

Diving on this site you are likely to encounter an Olive Sea Snake (or even a few of them) who call this dive site ‘home’. 

Although they are highly venomous they are docile, non-aggressive and to date there is no known record of any diver fatalities from any encounters with them here.

The topography of this dive site is interesting and consists of two large bommies (coral mountains) in 10-30 m (30-90 ft). 

There are some stunning drop-offs, sand flats and picturesque coral gardens to explore. 

Apart from the sea snakes you can see sweetlips, sharks, stingrays, coral trout, gropers, batfish, triggerfish and turtles.

Dive with Fairies

The Fairy Grotto

No, you won’t see fairies here (or anything called a fairy fish), but you will feel like you are diving in a fairy fantasyland.

This dive site is known for its crystal clear water and plummeting reef walls. You can swim into small caverns, through swim-throughs and along a towering 1,000 m (3,300 ft) sea wall. 

With the amazing formations of corals here giving a really grotto feel as fan corals fan the small caverns and see sheltering bat fish, sweetlips and lionfish.

Dive at Admiralty Anchor

Admiralty Anchor

This site comprises of a series of large coral bommies in close proximity of each other.  The gaps between these bommies make an interesting maze of canyons and gullies that are just so fun to explore. 

The dive site dips down gently and you can see in the sand waving garden eels before the bottom turns into a wall with a 1,000 ft drop off (3,300 ft).

Admiralty Anchor provides the underwater photographer with plenty of great photo opportunities, with its colourful corals and schools of pelagic fish. 

Dive at False Entrance

A large divide in the Great Barrier Reef gives this dive site its name.  A large U-shaped gully gradually descends to around 30m (90ft). 

There are also large amounts of bommies that rise up from the gully floor that make the topography of this dive so interesting.

Fans, whips and soft corals hide out of site in the undercuts, while a variety of hard corals inhabit the higher levels.  

Schooling Big Eye Trevally and Barracudas are great entertainment and you might be lucky to see passing silver, grey reef and white tip sharks passing.

Dive North Horn

This geographical point creates plenty of shark action.

Located at the northern most tip of Osprey Reef these are where two ocean currents converge, so great to view the larger pelagic passing through. 

You might be lucky to see a passing hammerhead, but there are many silver, grey reef, grey whalers and white tip sharks that converge here. 

It’s at this site that makes a spectacular site for the shark dive. 

Aside from the amazing shark action you will also see dog tooth tuna, mackerel, rainbow runners, barracuda, various code species and decorative soft coral, sea whips and the largest gorgonian fans that can be seen on the Great Barrier Reef.

Explore Lizard Island

Midway through your expedition you get to stop at Lizard Island and walk on your sea legs.

Explore Watson’s Bay and climb the hill to Chinaman’s Ridge, where Captain Cook once stood to get his bearings at “Cook’s Lookout”. 

The view you see today has changed very little since all those centuries ago.

The Dingaal Aboriginal people believed that these islands had been created in the Dreamtime.

Together they saw the islands like a stingray with Lizard Island being the body and the other islands in the group forming the tail and called the island Jiigurru.

The name Lizard Island dates back to 12 August 1770 when Captain Cook visited.  He commented, "The only land Animals we saw here were Lizards, and these seemed to be pretty Plenty, which occasioned my naming the Island Lizard Island."

By the 1860s the island was being used by sea cucumber fishermen to supply this popular delicacy to the markets in Asia.

Due to its secluded location and amazing scenery this island is often frequented by A-list celebrities such as Kate Hudson, Tiger Woods, Charlize Theron and Teri Hatcher. 

It is now protected as part of a National Park and hosts an exclusive resort on the island, aptly called Lizard Island Resort.

Once back on the open sea again, you will be diving again at the most amazing dive sites on the Great Barrier Reef.

Dive Challenger Bay

Challenger bay allows you to dive steep sloping walls that adjoin a shallow sandy bay that is dotted with small bommies and beautiful coral gardens.

For divers who want to dive to watch fish - and lots of them - this is a great site.  This site is also the equivalent of a fish health farm and the site is littered with many cleaning stations. 

Watch how the fish queue up to be next in line at these service points.  See sweetlips, coral trout, triggerfish, angelfish and rock cods all taking their turn for a bit of a pamper.

Schooling fish also tend to congregate here so you can see barracuda, the massive humphead parrotfish, snappers, reef sharks, cuttlefish, colonies of garden eels, nudibranch and moray eels.

Dive Lighthouse Bommie

During winter, Lighthouse Bommie becomes a great place to spot the amazing Minke Whale. During the rest of the year it plays host to Green Turtles and large schools of yellow and blue Snapper.

Dive Goggle Gardens

Goggle Gardens usually requires more than one dive, as you discover and dive along the ancient riverbed and its adorning walls, sandy flats, coral bommies and sandy flats.

Dive Vertical Gardens

Vertical Gardens is only accessible to the lucky few who are around for the few days a year when conditions are right. 

This dive site is a natural amphitheatre and is a perfect underwater viewing gallery.  Watch the marauding herd of large bumphead parrotfish and hear them as they crunch their way through the reef with their massive parrot shaped mouths. 

For the small critter fanciers you might see harlequin ghost fish, lace scorpion fish and leafy scorpion fish.

Dive Steve's Bommie

Though not sure who Steve was – he certainly has an impressive dive site named after him. Steve’s Bommie is one of the Great Barrier Reefs more frequented and favourite sites.

Located off one of the ribbon reefs, bommies rise from 30 m (90ft) to just under the surface.  These natural towers offer protection and shelter for a variety of schooling fish. 

Bigeye trevally, barracuda, Moses perch, yellow-lined snapper, and mackerel really make this site special, while reef sharks patrol the depths.

For the keen macro photographer there are nudibranchs, pipefish, scorpionfish, flatworms, lionfish and mantis shrimps among other small critters that will fill your lens. 

See the amazing effects of a Flame Shell as it pulses its own neon light show and the resident clown fish hiding amongst the waving anemones.

These are only some of the dive sites that your amazing 26 dives on your 7 nights dive safari will see.  

After your last dive you will return to Cairns overnight where you will arrive back and disembark at 8.00am at Trinity Wharf. 

 

Dive Boat Features

Daily cabin service with a 12 person highly experienced crew
Spacious living areas including bar and lounge, a large sundeck with lounge chairs and alfresco deck
Expansive dive deck with well-designed entry and exit platforms
2 large screen TVs 
Freshwater camera rinse tanks and specially designed Camera tables with air guns
Fully air-conditioned
Daily presentations will be given by the safari’s Marine Biologist 
Nitrox mix air available
Rebreather support available
2 large inflatable tenders for optimal dive access 

Dive Boats Specifications:

Commissioned 1989 | Survey – 1B (29 pax)

Speed – 15 knots

Length - 30 m (100ft) Beam – 10.5m (35ft)

Instruments on Board:

HF & VHF Radios

Radar

Global Positioning Systems x 2

Echo Sounder

240V /110V Recharge Facilities

Chart Plotters x 2

Check My Price Now Ask Questions

PADI Advanced Diver Course

PADI Nitrox Course

All Scuba Gear Available for Hire

Camera Hire

Diving Equipment

If you wish to rent any dive equipment then you can choose from the entire range of equipment. Fro

m BCD’s (Aqualung Wave), Regulators, computers and dive lights and snorkel gear.

By law all regulators and BCD’s provided by the dive operators have to be serviced every 6 months, so you can be rest assured that any equipment you rent will be safe and serviced. 

It is strongly recommended that if you are bringing your own BCD or regulator then they should have been recently serviced within the year.

All divers are given a Nautilus Lifeline GPS (no extra rental charge), to be worn on each dive to add to the safety of each diver.

On board they have tanks compatible to European DIN and US style tank valves.

If you wish to hire an underwater camera, download and edit photos onto CD’s and DVDs then these are also available.

Rebreathers

If you are a rebreather diver then please advise the tour organisers and they will forward pre-tour paperwork and ensure that they can support you on the trip

Rebreather services include:

MBDE Rebreather Pre-Dive Checklist for added safety
Complimentary supply of 2L aluminium, 3L steel “on board” cylinders and 7L steel “off board” cylinders (limited supply)
Extended service during Special ‘Deep Reef’ Expeditions includes:
Tri-mix rebreather service and decompression diving
Oxygen and soda lime supplied to order (fees apply)
Safety diver and bailout gas ready during decompression dives
HI 5G booster pump and fill panel
No time limit on dives (where practical)
Any depths will be limited to experience and qualifications

Please note: There is a ‘buddy only’ policy for rebreathers and decompression diving so no solo diving is allowed on this trip.

Photographic Services on Board

3 large camera stations with air guns
Special camera freshwater rinse tubs on diving deck
1x video/DVD player – to view videos
A 3 tier camera shelf that incorporates recharging facilities,
110v (USA style - 2 prong straight pin)
240v (Australian) socket.
All cabins also have 110v and 240v charging plugs
2x large flat screens for viewing photographs and video
In the main saloon you have access to a computer (Windows)
Win a free dive trip by entering the Guest Underwater Photo Competition that is run on every expedition.

Note:  Remember to bring adaptors for the electrical sockets to suit your chargers and USB digital memory card readers.

Nitrox Diving

Bring your nitrox certification card – or take a course and learn on board! Nitrox tanks and fills are available on board (at extra cost). 

Diving Schedule

Your diving day will consist of:

Morning Dive

Afternoon Dive

Night Dive (at the same site as the afternoon dive)

You are offered guided dives with an experienced Dive Master who knows the area and the dives sites well, or if you prefer you can dive with your buddy.

Meals On Board

Continental Breakfast

Full Breakfast

Mid morning snacks and fruits available

Lunch

Fruit and snacks

Dinner

For more exciting Great Barrier Reef liveaboard dive trips see here and here for more shark diving trips and swim with whales tours

Tour Languages Offered

• English

Departs From

Cairns

Departure Time

6:00pm

Departure Instructions

• Check in before 4.00pm at our Cairns office and then board to boat at Trinity Wharf at 6.00pm
• Disembarks Thursdays 8.00am

Destinations

• Great Barrier Reef
• Lizard Island
• Ribbon Reef dive sites: Cod Hole, Coral Kingdom, Steve's Bommie, Pixie Pinnacle, False Entrance. Lizard Island, North Horn, Admiralty Anchor, Dungeons 7 Dragons, Crystal Plateau

Months of Operation

August - January

Days of Operation

Thursday

2025 Departure Dates Currently Available: 04/09, 18/19, 02/10, & 11/12
2026 Departure Dates Currently Available: 08/01, 15/01, 22/01, 23/04, 13/08, 03/09, 17/09, 24/09, 01/10, 10/12 & 17/12
2027 Departure Dates Currently Available: 07/01, 14/01, 21/07 & 28/01

Duration

7 nights

Available for Purchase / Hire

• Beverages from the bar
• Gear Hire: wetsuits, gloves, tanks, GPS, safety sausage, nitrox fills, tanks, weights, gauges, BCD, light/torch
• Note: we recommend you bring your own wetsuit, mask snorkel and fins to ensure they fit well
• Dive Courses are available on board, discuss options at time of booking
• Underwater camera hire
• Trip videos
• Underwater photography course

Fitness Level Required

Medium, Active

Restrictions

Scuba Diving – minimum age 12

IN-WATER RESTRICTIONS

Scuba Diving Restrictions

• Certain medical conditions and medications may preclude some people from scuba diving.
• Participation is subject to a medical questionnaire completed on board with the tour operator
• Minimum age for scuba diving is 12 years.
• Flying after scuba diving: a wait of 12 hours is recommended after one dive, 18 hour after 2 dives and at least 24 hours after multiple dives, before ascending to an altitude of 300 metres or greater.

Read more about Diving Safety on the Great Barrier Reef.

Additional Information

• Experience: Advanced, or 15 logged ocean dives inc. 5 in last 12 months.
• We recommend that you allow 24 hours between your last dive and your onward flight (all diving is finished by 5:00pm Wednesday)
• Passengers MUST understand English
• The nearest hyperbaric chamber is based in Townsville
• All staff and crew are all trained in Emergency First Aid and Boat Safety.
• Ensure that all your equipment has been recently serviced. 
• Guest Dining: enjoy a sumptuous variety of meals that has earned Spoilsport an enviable reputation for catering excellence. Vegetarian, vegan and special dietary/allergy requirements are catered for with Australian and International menus using fresh local produce. Please advise if you have special dietary needs.

• Dive gear (it is possible to hire dive gear on board)
• Certification card and log book
• A luggage allowance applies to the flight from Cairns to Lizard Island: 25kg / 55lb per person plus 3kg / 6.5lb – carry on plus an additional 10kg/22lb is allowed for professional photo/video housed systems
• Excess luggage may be left at dive company office. We take care but not liability
• You should bring your own personal toiletries, hair dryer, travel adaptor and plugs, batteries, personal medication, swimming costume, rash vest, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, foot wear (sandals or tennis shoes), T-shirts, shorts, sweater and sweat pants – light weight pants and tops for the evening are a good idea. Also your wildest “loud” shirt/dress for the BBQ evening

• We seldom have children onboard however we do welcome ONE family per expedition with children minimum age 8 years
• We are unable to supply dive gear in children’s sizes
• Children must be over 12 years old and must be fully qualified